Discard disposal means for metal extrusion presses



P. BILLEN Feb, 2, 1965 DISCARD DISPOSAL MEANS FOR METAL EXTRUSIONPRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 26, 1963 INVENTOR PE TER B l LLENATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1965 P. BILLEN 3,163,195

DISCARD DISPOSAL MEANS FOR METAL EXTRUSION PRESSES Filed July 26, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 2 l/l 76M INVENTOR P ETER BILLEN BY fiw'l/ wnji b wATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1965 P. BILLEN 3,168,195

DISCARD DISPOSAL MEANS FOR METAL EXTRUSION PRESSES Filed July 26, 1963 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR PETER BILLEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent r,,1 8,1 DISCARD DISPOSAL MEANS FOR METAL EXTRUSION PRESSES Peter Billen,Leverkusen, Germany, assignor to The Loewy Engineering Company Limited,Bournemouth,

England, a company of Great Britain Filed July 26, 1963, Ser. No.297,893 8 Claims. (Cl. 207-1) This invention relates to the extrusion ofmetal billets in presses, and particularly to that stage of an extrusionoperation which is concerned with the disposal of the unextruded portionof a billet, the billet discard. The separation of the discard from theextruded articles and the subsequent removal of the discard from thepress are unproductive steps in the cycle of operation of an extrusionpress; it is therefore desirable that they should be carried out asexpeditiously as possible.

In many presses, especially in presses for the extrusion of tubulararticles, the separation of the discard from an extruded article iseffected by means of a punch with a cutting edge at its front end. Thispunch is normally kept in a parked position away from the extrusionaxis, and moved into this axis only for discard-shearing purposes. Inthe latter position, the punch is advanced towards the extrusion die byhydraulic power either through a separate ram or through the main ram ofthe press, and is thus rendered effective for separating the discardfrom the extruded article at the face of the die. After shearing, thepunch is retracted with the discard impaled thereon; the discard istaken off and the punch moved back to its parked position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in a metal extrusionpress an improved arrangement in which a piece of discard, impaled on apunch after a shearing operation, can be disposed of in a moreexpeditious manner than was heretofore the case.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a transverse view of part of an extrusion press into which theinvention has been incorporated, showing the arrangement of thediscard-shearing means in the press.

FIG. 2 is a section through part of the press of FIG. 1 along the lineAA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a discard-shearing unit,incorporated into the press of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown immediately beforediscard-shearing.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, showing the unit duringdiscard-shearing.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the unit afterdiscard-shearing but still in the extrusion axis.

FIG. 6 shows the unit in the parked position away from the extrusionaxis during the transfer of the discard.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6, showing the parts after thedisposal of the discard.

The press shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is of the type in which a pluality ofdie assemblies and a plurality of containers are mounted on two separaterotary carriers so that die assemblies and containers mounted thereoncan be moved in succession from a working station in the extrusion axisinto a parking station away from this axis, and back. The press has aplaten 10 which is connected by four columns 12 to a main cylinder, notshown. A die-assembly carrier in the form of a spider wheel 14 isrotatably mounted on one of the columns, and a container-carrier in theform of a turntable 16 is rotatably mounted on another column, the twocolumns being situated diametrically opposite each other with regard tothe extrusion axis XX as shown in FIG. 1.

3,168,195 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 The spider wheel 14 has two pairs ofdiametrically opposite arms 20 of which one pair carries two dieassemblies 18. Supported on the turntable 16 are two billet containers 22and two discard-shearing units 24. The containers and thediscard-shearing units respectively are arranged diametrically oppositeto each other with regard to the axis of rotation of the turntable.Rotation of the turntable 16 by moves alternately a container 22 or adiscard-shearing unit 24 into the extrusion axis XX.

In the example shown, each die-assembly 18 comprises two backing plates26 arranged one behind the other and in line with an extrusion die 28which is loosely inserted into the bore of a container 22. A die bolster30 is attached to the platen 10. Further arranged in the extrusion axisXX is a pressing stem 32 and a mandrel 34 which can be retracted intothe stem. A pressing disc 36 is secured to the stem.

The parts described co-operate with each other during an extrusion cyclein the well-known manner. A billet is first placed into the bore of thatcontainer 22 which is in the extrusion axis XX. This billet may behollow, or, if solid, may be pierced by the advancing mandrel 34.Further advance places the tip of the mandrel in the extrusion die 28whereupon the pressing stem 32 enters the container bore and extrudesthe billet through'the annular opening between mandrel 34 and die 28 soas to form a tube T. The end of the billet cannot be extruded forwell-known reasons and remains joined to the extruded tube T in the formof a discard D. This discard has to be severed from the tube before thelatter can be Withdrawn from the press. To this end, one of the twodiscard-shearing units 24 is moved into the extrusion axis in the placeof a container 22, the exchange being effected by rotation of theturntable 16. The arrangement of discard-shearing units and containerson the same carrier forms the subject of the co-pending patentapplication No. 207,717, filed July 5, 1962.

Each discard-shearing unit 24 consists, as shown in FIG. 3, of a punch40 which has a head 42, a neck 44 and a foot 46. The foot is seated inthe recess 48 of a socket 59 which forms part of a barrel 52. The latteris slidable in the longitudinal direction of the punch in a sleeve 54having an inner flange or rim 56. The sleeve 54 is axially slidable in aholder 58 secured to the turntable 16 by a retaining ring 60. A spring62 is inserted between the barrel 5 2 and the sleeve 54 and a spring 64is inserted between the inner sleeve 54 and the holder 58. The springs62 and 64 are held in their respective positions by rings attached tothe barrel 52 and the sleeve 54 and the holder 58 respectively.

A discard-shearing unit 24 comprising a punch 40, the sleeve 54 and theholder 58 and the two springs 62 and 64 can be positioned into a carrier16 and withdrawn therefrom as a unit.

As seen in FIG. 1, one of the discard-shearing units 24 when in itsparked position is situated below the extrusion axis XX. This is theposition which the unit assumes after a discard has been sheared off andthe turntable 16 rotated by one step of 90 thereafter. Arranged belowthe extrusion axis X X and so that a parked unit 24 is in alignmenttherewith are discard-holding means in the form of a finger 66 which canbe moved by a ram displaceable in a cylinder 68. The finger 66 is guidedin a tubular bracket 70 to which a stationary stripper plate 72 isattached. The finger 66 faces the punch 40 when the latter is in theparked position and is in alignment with the punch.

After an extrusion operation has been performed, the turntable 16 andthe Wheel 14 are separated from each other in the axial direction bymoving one of these two parts or both. The loose die 18, beingsandwiched between the discard D and. the first backing plate 26,adheres to the discard and is pulled out of the container bore,together'with the discard upon separation of container and die-assembly.The turntable 16 is then rotated by one step of 90?, anda'discard-shearing unit 24, is moved into the extrusion axis X -X takingthe place of the container. The parts are then in the position shown inFIG. 3.

The pressing stem 32 with'the pressing disc 36 attached thereto is nowadvanced to the left, andafter having become seated in a conical recessin the barrel 52 advances the barrel and the punch 40'to'the left andinto the position of'FIG. 4. The cutting edge provided between the head42'and the neck 44 or the punch, severs' the discard D from the extrudedtube T; which can now be withdrawn from the press (FIG. 5). Discard Dand.

die. 28 form together a clump which is impaled on the punch. The sleeve54 advances together with the barrel 52 and the punch 40, becausethe'front end of the barrel 52 abuts againsttheinner flange 56'. Thepressing stem 32 and the pressing disc 36 are nowretracted and the punch4% with the barrel 52 and the sleeve 54 are free to return to theirrespective starting positions shown in FIG. 3, under the actionof spring64. l V

The turntable 26 is rotated again, so that a fresh container ,22 ismoved into the extrusion axis X X, and the discard-shearing unit 24. ismoved-into the parking station below the extrusion axis. In thispositiongthe unit is in alignment with the'finger 66. The finger isadvanced by the ram in the cylinder 68 and pushes the punch 49, togetherwith its barrel 52, backwards without moving the sleeve 54. The flange56 acts as a stripper and assists in the transfer ofthe'clurnp from thepunch to the finger, as shown in FIG. 6 The latter is then retractedwith the clump impaled thereon. In the course of this movement, theclump abuts against the plate. 72 whichremoves the clump from the fingerso that it-drops into a chute 74 (FIG. 1) atuthe bottom of the press'forfurther disposal. The punch 40 is returnedby the spring i It willbeunderstood that while the .discard shearing 7 unit 24 isin its parkedposition and the clump is stripped" ofi'the finger, a containerlz-hasarrivedin the extrusion axis, andpreparations for the nextextrusion can be made without having to wait for the removal of-thediscard from the punch.

In the above description, it has been assumed that the die adheres tothe discard after shearing and'forms a clump therewith, impaled'first onthe punch and then on the finger. It'is clear that the invention isequally applicable to presses in which'the die stays apartffrorn thediscard or the pressing disc is included in the impaled clump.

What I claim is:

1. In a metal extrusion press, an extrusion die, means for shearing apiece of billet-discard remaining on the face of said die from anextruded article, said means comprising: a punch on which the piece ofdiscard isimpaled after shearing, said punch being movablefrom adiscardshearing position in the extrusion. am's to a parking positionoutside the extrusion axis, discard-holding means which face the punchwhen the'latter is in the parking position, and means for transferringthe. piece of discard from the punch to said discard-holding means.

2. A metal extrusionpr'ess according to claim 1, in which said holdingmeans consist of a finger which is aligned with said punch when thelatter is in the parking position, and means for moving said finger ontransference to saidfinger. '7 l i 3. A metalextrusion press accordingvto claim 2, having stripping means assisting in the transfer. of saidpiece of discard from saidpunch. to said finger. I i i 4. A metalextrusion press according to claim 3, having further stripping meansfor. removing said piece of discardfrom said fingeru-pon its retraction,from said, punch.

5. A metal extrusion press according to claim 2, having a carrier forsaid discard-shearing means, said carrier being movable relative tothe'press axis, a sleeve guided v said sleeve, and meansensuringmovement ofsaidsleeve I together with. said punch duringdiscard-shearing only.

6. A metal extrusion press according to' claim 5, having first springmeansurging said sleeve in one, direction relative to said carrier, andsecond spring means urging said punchin the opposite directionrelativetosaid sleeve.

7. A metal extrusion press accordingto claim. 1, hav ing a carrier forsaid. discard-shearing means, said carrier being movable relative tosaidrpressaxis and a billetcontainer mounted on said carrier, said,discard-shearing.

means and said containerv being. adapted toexchange positions in thepress axis upon movement of. saidcarrier.

8. A metal extrusion 'pr e ss. accordingto claim 7; in

which said carrier. is rotatableabout an axis parallel to the. pressaxis.

References Cited in the file of this patent v V FOREIGN- PATENTS 1; Q

1. IN A METAL EXTRUSION PRESS, AN EXTRUSION DIE, MEANS FOR SHEARING A PIECE OF BILLET-DISCARD REMAINING ON THE FACE OF SAID DIE FROM AN EXTRUDED ARTICLE, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PUNCH ON WHICH THE PIECE OF DISCARD IS IMPALED AFTER SHEARING, SAID PUNCH BEING MOVABLE FROM A DISCARDSHEARING POSITION IN THE EXTRUSION AXIS TO A PARKING POSITION OUTSIDE THE EXTRUSION AXIS, DISCARD-HOLDING MEANS, WHICH FACE THE PUNCH WHEN THE LATTER IS IN THE PARKING POSITION, AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE PIECE OF DISCARD FROM THE PUNCH TO SAID DISCARD-HOLDING MEANS. 